Tallahassee, Fla. – Trent Turner belted a two-run home run as Western Carolina's bats came alive in the late innings on Saturday afternoon, but an eight-run deficit proved to be too much to overcome as Florida State claimed the nonconference series with an 8-4 victory over the Catamounts at Dick Howser Field.
 
Stymied through the first seven innings, the Catamounts were limited to just one base hit with only five combined base runners until the four-run eighth inning. Mason Holton reached on a one-out single ahead of Turner who belted a 2-2 pitch over the fence in right-center field to put the Catamounts on the scoreboard. WCU loaded the bases with two outs in the frame when freshman Elijah Smith collected his first collegiate RBI on a run-scoring walk and Nate Stocum capped the scoring as he came home on a passed ball.
 
In the ninth, WCU again threatened as Cameron Murray led off with a pinch-hit double and Holton drew a walk which ultimately brought the game-tying run to the on-deck circle. FSU managed to strike out the side in the final frame to preserve the win.
 
The story of the day was Florida State pitching – especially early. Four Seminoles pitchers combined for 18 strikeouts with starter Jamie Arnold (2-0) striking out 11 over a six-inning, one-hit shutout effort. Hudson Rowan used three strikeouts to record his four outs over an inning and a third of relief, with the fourth and final pitcher Brennen Oxford fanning four over his 1.1-inning effort to score the save.
 
WCU's five hits included three for extra bases and were scattered between five players in Saturday's loss. Turner drove in two on his second home run of the season. Three Catamounts reached twice as Jack Spyke doubled and drew a walk, while James Hinson singled and was hit by a pitch. Holton darkened the basepaths twice with a single and a base on balls. Murray added WCU's fourth extra-base hit with his ninth-inning double.
 
The Seminoles had four players credited with multiple hits including a pair of hitters that collected three hits apiece. Drew Faurot reached base four times in a 3-for-3 effort with a pair of doubles and a home run, while Jaxson West had a double and a triple in a 3-for-4 showing with two RBI. DeAmez Ross (2-for-3) and Jaime Ferrer (2-for-4) rounded out FSU's multi-hit performances.
 
WCU (3-3) had a great chance to open the game with the lead after loading the bases in the top of the second inning. Spyke doubled with Tafton Hensley and Cole Jones both drawing walks to fill the bags with Catamounts. However, back-to-back strikeouts as a part of three K's in the frame ended the threat.
 
Florida State (5-0) then broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the third inning as Faurot reached on a lead-off triple before being pushed home on a sacrifice bunt for the 1-0 edge through three. Faurot again sparked a rally as he led off the fifth with a double before scoring on West's triple to right field. The two-run fifth was capped as West came home on a sacrifice fly.
 
The Seminoles used a four-spot in the bottom of the sixth, collecting six hits including three-consecutive doubles in the frame to grab the 8-0 lead ahead of WCU's four-run eighth that provided Saturday's final tally.
 
Catamount starter Kyle Riesselmann (0-1) took the loss, only surrendering three runs while scattering seven hits over five innings with a walk and a strikeout. Ryan White was the third of three arms used by WCU, tossing the final 2.2 innings with a run on three hits allowed, walking and striking out one.
 
The three-game series and WCU's four-game road swing concludes on Sunday afternoon as the Catamounts and Seminoles meet with a 1 p.m. first pitch. The game will be broadcast on the ACC Network Extra (paid subscription required) and the Watch EPSN app. Live stats are also available online at CatamountSports.com.
 
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